inverter fuse/breaker
I am purchasing a 3000 watt inverter and wondering should i use a ANL 300amp fuse or a 300amp breaker between batteries and inverter?
Forum Discussion
1/0 isn't big enough for a 3 kW inverter. I would think you would want 4/0 if you're going any distance at all. A 3,000 watt inverter at 12 volts will be drawing 250 amps without taking efficiency into consideration. Figure it's only 80% efficient and now you're drawing 312 amps. If the voltage sags below 12 volts, which it likely will, you would be drawing even more current. 3/0 is rated for 350 amps in free air (less if in conduit). IF you're really going to draw 3 kW from the inverter I would use 4/0 cable and a 400A breaker or class T fuse. The breaker that TechWriter liked to is rated for a 5,000 A interrupt ratting at 48v. It doesn't say what it would be at 12v but likely substantially higher. The only way to find out what your battery bank's fault current is would be to find out from the manufacturer.
Carling Technologies makes lots of high current breakers resold by many of the inverter manufactuerers. Their F series is rated for up to 50,000 Amps of fault current up to 125v DC.
As difficult and expensive as a suitable 400A breaker may be to find I would probably just use a fuse unless you will never be using your inverter at it's full capacity.
Carling Technologies makes lots of high current breakers resold by many of the inverter manufactuerers. Their F series is rated for up to 50,000 Amps of fault current up to 125v DC.
As difficult and expensive as a suitable 400A breaker may be to find I would probably just use a fuse unless you will never be using your inverter at it's full capacity.
